White water rafting

Our next adventure was white water rafting on the Balsa River. We were picked up at our resort by Wave Rafting for the 45 minute drive to the river which I always find interesting as you get to see different parts of the country.  On the way we were given the safety talk and what to do if you fall out at which point I started to feel a little nervous but having rafted before I thought I have this.  I had the illusion of taking a camera but once we were geared up the guide Marco suggested it was not a good idea and I am glad I listened to him as I was too busy concentrating and paddling that it would not have been used.  We were in the raft less than a minute before we hit our first rapid and it was a doozy. Marco had told us when he said down we had to get on the bottom of the raft and between the down and ups we felt like we were in a jack in the box but he kept us safe and in the boat.  We did have one close encounter where we hit a rock and came to a full stop with the boat up on a 90 degree angle.  Kris and I were on the low side right by the rock and were sure we were going over but Marco got Brad to climb to the back corner of the raft to balance it off the rock.  We all breathed a huge sigh of relief.  We were on the river for 2 1/2 hours and it was totally exillerating and very wet.  We did learn on the bus ride back that one raft did flip and the one fellow I talked to was very bruised from his time in the river and bashing against rocks.

From the rafting we went to Vida Campesida which is a family estate where we enjoyed a traditional lunch cooked over wood stoves.  We then had a demonstration of how they harvest the juice from the sugar cane that they grow.  We chewed pieces of the cane as well as drank the very sweet juice.  To finish off the adults had a shot of moonshine which they make on site.  It was very potent and burned on the way down.

Returning to the resort we had a swim before heading into town for dinner.  Returning to the same small family restaurant where we had so enjoyed lunch the day before we were welcomed warmly and the owner brought out small treats such as home made chips and jars of hot sauce his mom made.  Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner before returning to pack and get ready for an early morning departure to our next destination.

This doesn’t look too bad. Just a bit of rough water

Maybe one should not get too complacent as I think it is about to get more exciting 

Those of us at the front were very wet as the raft buried itself in the rapids

These rapids were definitely not for the weak of heart

Smiling but hard work at times

Coming out of the rapids was also an exciting ride

No time to relax as there was always another rapid along the way

The photographer did a great job of getting shots from all angles

I was a little worried about that rock straight ahead

With a valiant effort by all we got around it

Relief with Tyler hamming it up for the photographer 

A very wet finish to a run of amazing rapids. What a great day

The family sugar farm where we enjoyed lunch

Squeezing the juice from the sugar cane

Isaac and Alanna testing the fountain water in town before a delicious dinner